TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas House committee has approved a bill eliminating a projected state budget deficit by relying more on moving money around than cutting spending.

The Appropriations Committee passed its budget-balancing measure on a voice vote. The full House is expected to take up the bill Tuesday.

The state faces a projected shortfall exceeding $330 million in its current budget after tax collections fell $47 million short of expectations in January. The deficit is in the state’s main bank account, which finances general government programs.

The bill mostly diverts money from highway projects and other special funds into the state’s main bank account.

The shortfall arose after lawmakers aggressively cut personal income taxes at Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s urging in 2012 and 2013 to stimulate the state’s economy.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Officials with northeast Kansas American Indian tribes have had preliminary discussions with Gov. Sam Brownback on gaining more control over revenue and spending on their lands.

A previous compact with the state allowed tribes to collect some state taxes on products sold on their lands and keep some of the revenue for their programs.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Steve Cadue, former chairman of the Kickapoo Nation, says Brownback expressed support for the idea last year but that was before the state was facing multi-million dollar budget deficits.

Brownback’s spokeswoman, Eileen Hawley, say the governor has informally discussed a variety of issues, including taxes, with the four Kansas tribes but the talks are in the early stages and it’s unlikely a compact will be part of this year’s budget.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A bill before the Kansas Senate would allow home-schooled students to participate in public school sports and activities.

The measure would allow any student living in a school district to participate in any activity offered by the district for four consecutive school years, even if the student graduates before the fourth year.

The bill, which is awaiting a hearing in the Education Committee, is opposed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Gary Musselman, executive director of the association, says public school students have to earn eligibility and are held to strict standards before they can participate.

Supporters say the bill could benefit small, rural schools that often don’t have enough students for an activity.

The Wichita Eagle reports the Senate Education Committee will consider the bill.

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON — Authorities are investigating what caused a gas leak on Sunday in Reno County.

The leak forced law enforcement to close off a portion of US 50 in Reno County.

Fire crews were called just before 9 p.m. to US 50 and Kent Road just east of Hutchinson after the leak was discovered in a one-inch gas line.

The highway was closed from Mayfield to Buhler Haven Road while repairs were made to the line.

The highway was reopened just before midnight.

There were no injuries.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is pushing back against criticism of his foreign policy, arguing that Americans are safer on his watch.

Obama said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show broadcast Monday that the U.S. has been “pretty successful” preventing major attacks since Sept. 11, 2001.

He is expressing concern about the “breakdown of order” in the Mideast and parts of North Africa. But he says, “it’s important for us to also just look at the track record of how many Americans have actually been killed during the course of this past decade.”

He says the job of fighting against extremism is never done. He says strategies have to be adapted to the constant changes terrorists are making.

By Austin Fisher
KU Statehouse Wire Service

TOPEKA — A bill that would require Kansas police officers to use body-worn cameras while on duty would cost about $1.4 million in 2016 in equipment, personnel and training, the Kansas Highway Patrol estimates.

Senate Bill 18 would require every state, county, and municipal law enforcement officer to be equipped with a body camera while on patrol duty. Ongoing maintenance would cost an estimated $871,000 in 2017.

Maj. Dawn Layman, a Lenexa police officer, is in favor of body cams and was wearing one at Thursday’s Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee hearing.

“You do your officers a disservice if you don’t get the technology,” she said. “Law enforcement gets the fact that the technology is needed.”

Lenexa has used body cams since 2009. However, Layman opposes a statewide mandate, saying smaller departments facing budget challenges need to have a say in what equipment they use. She said the camera she was wearing costs $900.

Police could seek grants and other funds from the federal government, and other public or private sources to cover costs. Layman, who plans to testify to the Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee with other opponents to the bill on Monday, said federal funding has been reduced in recent years.

Rep. Gail Finney (D-Wichita) asked the committee to consider asset forfeiture, DUI penalties, and penalties under Jessica’s Law to help fund the mandate.

“Nobody likes unfunded mandates but I think if we’re really concerned and we really want to ensure some type of transparency and accountability of law enforcement, we will find a way to find the money,” she said.

For Rev. Ben Scott, president of the Topeka NAACP, funding is secondary to compassion for victims.

“The cost of putting up the tapes for three years is far less than a life that’s out on the street,” Scott said. “Try to put yourself in the shoes of some of us,” he said. “It’s not easy.”

Body camera videos would be kept on file for three years if the recorded incident involves the use of force, leads to detention or an arrest, or may be useful in a criminal case. Otherwise, videos would be deleted after two weeks.

Micah Kubic, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, asked the Senate committee to extend the time police would hold on to video to four weeks to allow more time to review the footage. He suggested that in the interest of privacy the cams shouldn’t record continuously but only when police interact with the public. Also, anyone wanting to give an anonymous tip should be able to request an officer to turn off the camera.

“We think (the bill) does a very good job of balancing competing interests of accountability, privacy, and safety,” Kubic said. “We believe that (body cams) can be a very good tool for preventing false allegations against police officers.”

The Topeka Capital-Journal previously reported that departments in Wichita and Riley County already use body cams, and the move to expand their use statewide has bipartisan support.

Officers wearing cams could stop recording when “engaged in a personal matter” like a personal discussion or when using the bathroom, or upon request of a resident whenever the officer enters the resident’s home. Officers would also need to notify citizens that the camera is recording.

While body cam video would be exempt from the Kansas Open Records Act, anyone recorded in the video, their parents, legal guardians, or attorneys could request a copy.

Walt Chappell, vice chair of the Racial Profiling Advisory Board of Wichita (RPAB), said he hopes the bill will allow police to review their actions, policies, and training in order to de-escalate interactions with citizens before they become violent confrontations.

Confrontations that result in deadly action are often muddled by conflicting accounts and lies, says Djuan Wash, communications director of Sunflower Community Action and member of the RPAB.

Wash said body cams would have helped establish the facts in the Wichita police shooting death of John Paul Quintero on Jan. 3.

“Had the officers that responded had on a body camera, the family and the police department would know what happened, versus the messiness of a he-said, she-said argument” Wash said.

The committee only had time to hear proponents of the bill Thursday, and will meet on Monday to hear testimony from opponents.

Austin Fisher is a University of Kansas senior from Lawrence majoring in journalism.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — The bids are in and now it’s up to the state to decide the winning play for a new state-owned casino in southeast Kansas.

Four groups submitted formal applications to the Kansas Lottery Commission by the deadline Friday to open a casino in either Crawford or Cherokee counties.

The Joplin Globe reports two of the proposals are for casinos in Cherokee County, with the other two are for casinos in Crawford County.

Sally Lunsford, spokeswoman for the Kansas Lottery, said the Lottery Gaming Facility Review Board will have up to 60 days to recommend the winning bid. The Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission would then complete a background investigation and have 10 days to approve or reject the recommendation.

Kansas already has three state-owned casinos.